Al Hilal warm up for Capital Derby with yet another win

Roshn Saudi League champions Al Hilal head into the competition’s inaugural Derby Week - and the highly anticipated capital clash at Al Nassr - with their 100 percent record intact after they defeated Al Taawoun 2-0 on Saturday night.

Jorge Jesus’ side, unbeaten in their previous 43 RSL matches, made it eight league wins from eight this season thanks to goals from Serbia international duo Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

It was Mitrovic who opening the scoring at Kingdom Arena on 15 minutes when summer signing Joao Cancelo was fed by Malcom before squaring for the former Fulham striker, who finished from close range.

The goal marked Mitrovic’s 10th of the 2024-25 RSL and keeps him out in front in the race for this campaign’s golden boot. Cancelo, meanwhile, now has five assists in 10 appearances for the club across all competitions since joining from English Premier League champions Manchester City.

However, Al Hilal thought they had been pegged back not long into the second half, when Al Taawoun frontman Joao Pedro found space between markers to head home, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside via VAR.  

Then, just after the hour, Al Hilal doubled their advantage. Al Taawoun goalkeeper Mailson failed to deal properly with a corner at his near post, leaving Milinkovic-Savic to send home the rebound - much to the delight of star playmaker Neymar, who watched on from the stands. 

While Mailson atoned somewhat with a series of fine saves, Al Hilal saw out the game to restore their three-point lead at the top of the table following eight rounds. Al Ittihad sit second, with Al Nassr third, six points off the summit.

Al Nassr and Al Hilal meet this Friday in the Capital Derby in Riyadh, part of a trilogy of derbies in Matchweek 9 that includes Al Ittihad hosting Al Ahli on Thursday in Jeddah and Al Ettifaq welcoming Al Qadsiah to their stadium on Saturday.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Steven Gerrard's Al Ettifaq were held to a 1-1 draw at Al Fayha, while Al Raed defeated bottom side Al Fateh 2-1 in Buraidah.